KCE Staff Reporter Nathan Hale
After trial in front of Kenosha Circuit Court Judge Mary Kay Wagner (D), Matthew Braun was found guilty of knowingly violating a domestic abuse injunction. This conviction stemmed from an incident where police say Matthew Braun drove by his ex-wife’s place of employment, flipped her the “bird” and said “fu#* you!”. Braun tried to explain that it was a complete accident that he drove by her work, a place he testified he knew his ex was employed. Judge Wagner didn’t believe it. “I don’t believe his (Braun’s) story. I believe her(victim)… she is credible.”
KCE Staff Reporter Nathan Hale
A Kenosha police detective testified that he spoke to Braun shortly after the incident and Braun couldn’t say why he drove in front of a place he was ordered to avoid. He couldn’t say where he was coming from or where he was going. At trial, however, Braun gave explicit testimony of exactly where he was and where he was going under oath.The prosecutor pounced on Braun saying “the defendant magically remembers, two years later.”
Past Violence Allegations and Conviction
KCE Staff Reporter Nathan Hale
In 2018, Braun was charged with domestic battery and disorderly conduct from an incident where his ex-wife says he bit her on her face. According to the report, an intoxicated Braun caused bloody injuries to his wife’s face. He was combative with police and they were afraid he was about to use his 3-year-old as a human shield/hostage. They had to draw their tasers to get compliance according to the report. The DA gave Braun an overly-generous plea deal and he plead guilty to domestic abuse/disorderly conduct. Judge Wagner sentenced Braun to a fine of $100. The court issued the restraining order shortly after. When the victim spoke in court today, she expressed her frustration with this “minimal punishment.” She asked for a tougher sentence this time saying she needs to be protected. She told many graphic stories of domestic violence that spanned for years. She told the court that Braun said that he could kill her and cremate her at his funeral home and “no one would know.”
Not The First Time
Pleasant Prairie police asked Michael Graveley’s office to charge Braun with knowingly violating a domestic abuse injunction on 11/18/2018 and Kenosha Police asked the same on 12/14/2019. Both times, Michael Graveley’s office declined to issue charges. This made the victim incredibly upset and today she breathed a sigh of relief that he has finally been convicted of violating the restraining order.
Sentence
KCE Staff Reporter Nathan Hale
Judge Mary Kay Wanger issued a 9-month probation period to Braun. She also levied some stern warnings to Braun about future behavior. Conditions of probation are that he have no contact with his ex-wife. When it was Braun’s turn to speak, he told the court “I apologize” and “I still love her.” Braun was facing a several month jail sentence.
6 Responses
are you covering the fuller sentencing tomorrow? Be great to get pics of his family crying after the sentencing, since they been so tough lately on social media. He was sentenced today for jury tampering. Been following this case close. You should do something on that
Unfortunately we cannot. We didn’t get our request to photograph in time
That stinks. Would be great to see his loud mouth mom cry. Did you know she started a Facebook page with his name and laughs at the juga’s!? Sick family Seen it on a few posts
Any info on the fuller sentencing?
She gave Fuller life with no parole for the murder. For the attempted murder and burglary she gave him a very weak sentence : 15 years total. This means if he somehow got his homicide conviction overturned, which is unlikely, he would only do 15 years. Many folks were hoping that she would Max him out on all charges
I watched the trial. No way in absolute hell would that case be overturned. I have seen a lot in Kenosha, but this one was more planned and executed then another case in Kenosha.